Towel cabinet



F. M. STEINER TOWEL CABINET .hil 23, 1929.

Original Filed Aug. 2, 1926 n van if FQANKMJTE/A/ER ATTQQ EYJ' Patented July 23, 1929.

I Unite rates FRAIl'KlyI. STEINEB, OF TvIINNEAPQLIS, BITITNESGTA, ASSIGNOR TO STEINER SALES COT/.TPANY, 0F SALT LAKE CTJTY,UT AH, A CQEPGRATION OF UTAH.

TOW'EL CABINET. 7

Application filed August 2, 1926, Serial No. 126,615. Renewed June 7, 1929.

r Towel cabinets of the type shown herein are usually equipped with sanded feed rolls or rolls having roughened surfaces between which and the towel web there is sufficient friction to operate the rolls when the web is pulledthereover.

The cabinet is filled with a clean toweling by placing a web or roll thereof in the lower portion and stretching the clean web over one of the feed rolls to a point where the web can be conveniently grasped by the user and drawn out of the cabinet to a point convenient for use. The loose end of the web is passed around a takeup roll on which the soiled web is wound and as a considerable portion of the web has to be passed over the sanded feed roll in filling the cabinet, it is quite important that means be provided so that there will be no delay in easily and quickly stretching the towel web over the feed roll, it being understood of course that the towel will grip the roll sufiiciently to retard the stretching operation and it is necessary to either allow the feed roll to be revolved or holdthe towel up out of contact with the roll. Both of these operations require time and attention on the part of the attendant. V

The object therefore, of my present invention is to provide means in connection with the delivery feed roll so that when the web of clean towel is being stretched thereover in the operation of filling the cabinet, there will be no frictional contact between the web and the roll surface to delaythe installation of the clean web and require time and attention on the part of'the operator.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following detailed description.

The invention consists generally in various constructions and combinations all as hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims. 7

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification,

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through a towel cabinet embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged detailed view of the upper portion of the cabinet showing the delivery feed roll and my attachment therefor in its normal position;

Figure 8 is a similar view illustrating the attachment moved to a point where it separates the web of towel from the surface of the roll and presents a smooth surface over which the web of towel will slip easily in the operation of filling the cabinet;

Figure 1 is a sectional View on the line 44 of Figure 3.

In the drawing, 2 represents a towel cabinet having the usual supporting legs 3 and a chamber 4; in its lower portion for the web or roll of clean towel 5. This chamber is preferably separated from the upper portion of the cabinet by a partition 6. In the top of the cabinet, is a feed roll 7 having preferably the usual sanded surface, though-a roll with any other roughened surface may be used if preferred. The delivery opening 8 is below and near this feed roll and a suitable feed delivery device 9 is provided by means of which the operator is allowed to draw out a certain length of, clean towel A second feed roll 10 is provided in the cabinet having a driving connection indicated by dotted lines with the feed roll 7 and a takeup roll 11 is mounted to move vertically in slots 12 and contact by gravity with the feed roll 10 andaround this takeuproll the web of soiled towel is wound, the roll being driven to wind the web thereon simultaneously and synchronously with the movement of the feed roll, it being understood that the pull of the user on the web of clean towel .to draw it to a using position outside the cabinet will engage the web with the roughened s 'zrface of the roll 7 and cause this I roll to be revolved and its motion transmitted to the second feed roll 10 and the takeup roll.

A gate 13 is pivoted at 14 in the upper rear walls of the cabinet and is-normally held in a vertical position by suitable means such as springs 15. A yoke 16 is pivoted concentrically with the feed roll 7 and has a curved plate 17 extending lengthwise of the feed roll 7 and spaced therefrom and connected with the gate 13 by a link 18. This yoke normally occupies the position shown in Figure 2 on the under side of the feed roll. lVhen, however, the gate 13 is opened to expose the feed roll and allow the threading of the web of clean towel over this roll and through the opening 19 between the roll and top of the cabinet, the yoke will be swung to the position illustrated in Figure 3, where it will prevent the towel web from contacting with the feed roll, and will present a smooth even surface over which the towel web will readily slip and permit the attendant to draw this towel web a suflicient distance over the feed roll to wind the end of the web on the takeup roll. The yoke 16 will remain in its raised position as shown in Figure 3 as long as the gate 13 is open. As soon, however, as the attendant releases this gate, it will drop down to the position shown in Figure 2 and the towel web will thereupon contact with the friction surface of the feed roll and pull of the user on the web will cause the roll to be revolved and its motion transmitted to the takeup roll to revolve it also. A slide 2'0 is mounted between guides 21 at the front of the cabinet and a roll 22 is mounted on this guide and around this roll the web of towel is passed before winding on the takeup roll. When the user pulls on the towel web to draw it outwardly to at using position, the slide 20 will be raised to the position indicated by dotted lines so that when the user releases the web, the slide will drop-by gravity to the position indicated by full lines in Figure 1, drawing the web of soiled towel into the cabinet to a point where it cannot be conveniently seen. This vertically moving slide 1 make no claim to in this application.

A gate 23 is preferably pivoted above the takeup roll in position to hold the web of towel out of contact with the takeup roll. Stops 24 limit the downward movement of this gate but permit it to be raised and allow access to the takeup roll and the second feed roll.

I claim as my invention 1. A towel cabinet having a chamber in its lower portion for the clean towel web and a delivery opening in its forward wall, a de livery feed roll mounted in said cabinet near said delivery opening and having a roughened surface for frictional contact with the web of towel, a gate in the rear of said delivery feed roll and normally closing the passage between it and the upper wall of the cabinet, and means connected with said gate to be actuated thereby when the gate is opened for moving the towel web out of engagement with said feed roll and permitting it to be drawn easily thereover.

2. A towel cabinet having a lower portion adapted to receive a web or supply. of clean towel and provided with a delivery opening is wound, the arrangement being such that the web of clean to wel may be stretched over said delivery feed roll to said delivery opening in filling the cabinet, a spring pressed gate pivot ally supported in the upper portion of said cabinet and normally bearing on the towel web to straighten and smooth it, a curved plate normally depending below said delivery feed roll and adapted to be swung to a position above said feed roll to raise the towel web out of contact therewith, means connecting said plate with said gate for moving said plate to its raised position when said gate is opened whereby the attendant may stretch the web of clean towel over said plate and out of contact with said delivery feed roll in filling the cabinet.

3. A towel cabinet having therein a feed roll over which a towel web normally passes, a gate openable to give access to said roll, and a device movable in the cabinet, said device having a smooth outer surface, means connecting said device to said gate to automatically move said device over the'roll by open ing said gate to separate the web from the roll with its smooth surface supporting the web to facilitate the passage of the web over the roll while threading the web into position in the cabinet. p

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 29th day of July 1926.

FRANK M. STEINER. 

